Party members were supposed not to go into ordinary shops (‘dealing on the free market’, it was called), but the rule was not strictly kept, because there were various things, such as shoelaces and razor blades, which it was impossible to get hold of in any other way.

Party members were supposed not to go into ordinary shops (dealing on the free market, it was called), but the rule was not strictly kept, because there were various things, such as shoelaces and razor blades, which it was impossible to get hold of in any other way.

He moved into the lucrative world of TV adventure, where his never-flagging enthusiasm, willingness to eat virtually anything (sheep's eyeball, anyone?) and inventive use of common items such as shoelaces to survive uncommon danger made him a compelling draw.